Traction device for automobiles.



G. I. ZILLMER & G. A. STROHHAEGKER.

TRACTION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lwuzntom G. I. ZILLMER & G. A. STRQHHAECKER. TRACTION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

3 BHEETBSHEET 2.

witnesses I WMMQMM G. F. ZILLMER & G; A. STROHHAECKER. I

TRACTION vDEVICE FOB AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1909.

Patented Aug". 9, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@W vwento'co Wit" eoseo UNITED s'rAtrEs liATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. ZILLMER AND GEORGE ANTON s'raonmncxna, or MILWAUKEE,

wIscoNsm.

TRACTION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters men.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that -we, CHARLES F. ZILLMER and GEORGE ANTON STROHHAECKER, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have'invented a Traction Device for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the tractionwheels of motor-vehicles, and more particularly to those of automobiles, where the structure and conditions are of a special nature; and the object designed to be accomplished is two-fold, namely: first, to provide means for preventing the wheels from slipping and skidding in either hard or soft, slippery, marshy, or snow-covered ground; and secondly to provide an emergency wheel adapted to replacethe pneumatic tire and support the vehicle independently thereof in case of puncture or inJury to the pneumatic tire.

- We further aim to provide a device of this sort which can be mounted upon any automobile, which shall not involve the addition of an excessive Weight or bulk, and which shall be substantially hidden behind the traction-wheel and therefore not appearing or being conspicuous to the eye, or otherwise marrlng the general appearance of thevehicle.

Briefly described, our invention comprises a secondary wheel. or wheel-rim mounted upon and on the inner side, of the ordinary wheel and carrying a plurality of radial pins which are normally held retracted within said wheel-rim by means of springs, but are projected at will beyond the wheelrim by means of a certain mechanism which is under the control of the operator of the Vehicle.

The nature and construction of our inven tion will be best understood by a particular description thereof which is hereinbelow given, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings wh1ch illustrate our most approved form of the invention.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile frame and a part of the mechanism constructed with our traction-device, to I show the general arrangement of actuating levers which may be adopted; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the traction-device and wheel from the inner side of the latter, with the anchor-pins projected, certain parts being shown in section on the plane 2 of Fig. 3, and-two of the pin-casings being shown in section;-Fi 3 is a diametral section of the whee and traction device, 1n the posltion with the anchor-pins projected, certain parts not connected with I the invention being omitted; Fi 4 and 5 are views s1milar to Figs. 2 an 3 respectlvely, with the anchor-pins retracted; Fig.

6 is a rear elevation of the pair of drivingwheelsand traction-devices mounted thereon, showing a part of the operating-mechanism; Fig. 7 1s a plan view and Fig. 8 a side elevation of the operating-lever and winding-drum on the operating shaft; and Fig. 9 1s a plan section and Fig. 10 a side elevation to show the retracting-spring and spring-casing and the gearing connected therewith.

Describing the principal parts of the automobile which are shown 1n the drawings for I the purpose of illustration but not connected directly with-the invention, A is the vehicleframe, B the front or steering-wheels, C the rear or driving-wheels, said wheels being mounted respectively on axles D and E,

from which the frame A is supported through springs F, G; H is the drivingmotor, I the fly-wheel and clutch, J the speed-changing gearing operated by levers K, L and M: N represents the transmissionshaft, 2with a universal jointat O and P represents .the steering-wheel of the machine. The other elements shown in Fig. 1, which constitute the operatinggearing, will be described presently.

On each inner side of the traction-wheel isfmounted a secondary wheel a, which is in fact only a rim without ahub, clamped in position upon the main wheel C inany suitable manner, as for instance by ="clampingbolts b securing it to the spokes 0, said wheel having a flange a fitting over the external periphery of the brake-casing Q which is customarily found on the inside of the driving-wheels of automobiles, and said 1 flange a being in the-drawing secured fast to the brake-casing by rivets a'-; but itwill be understood that the mounting of the device is not dependent upon the presence or absence of a brake-casing, asany other means which will hold-the secondary wheel a firmly in place concentric with the axis of rotation 1s cons1stent w1th our nvention. The

secondary wheel a is formed with a'plurality of radial casings a? equably-zspaced about the periphery and referably 1so located that tached by suitable means such as bolts 0 is an receive anchor-pins d which have sharp edged ends d adapted to project beyond the periphery and cut into the material of the road, thereby holding the wheel against slipping.

These pins are normally held retracted bycoiled compression-s rings 03 within the casings a each of sai springs abutting at its outer end against an internal shoulder a of the casing and at its inner end against a shoulder d upon the pin. The inward movement ofthe pin'is limited in any preferred manner, as for example by cross-pins fitting in slots (i in the pins d; These pins arranged to be projected from the rim of the secondary wheel a on the lower side of the wheel only, as they revolve, by a mechanism under the control of the operator, which is as follows: Upon any stationary part of th mounting, as for example the closure-plate it of the brake-casing,to which it may be ateccentric sheave e, the center of which is located at the point e a short space directly below the center 6 oi the axle E. Upon this sheave .is rotatably 'mounted another eccentric sheave f, the peri hery of which has the same eccentricity wit regard to the sheave eas the latter has with respect to the axle, so that in Fig. 2, in which the sheave f is turned into the projected position, its center lies at the point f immediately below the. center 6 of the inner sheave e, and at a distance from the center of rotation 6 equal to twice the eccentricity of either sheave alone; while when said sheave f is rotated into the diametrically opposite position from that of Fig. 2, as shown at Fig. l, its center point coincides with the center of rotation e in other words in this position the sheave f is concentric with the axis of rotation of the wheel. Now the periphery of this outer sheave f, which may be fdrmed with amarginal flange f for the put pose, actsdirectly upon the inner ends of the pins 01, which latter are preferably provided with antifriction rollers d; and it will be observed there fore, that in the concentric position, as shown in Fig. 4:, the periphery of the sheave f lies entirely within their retracted positions, consequently they are not affected; but when turned through an angle from this position they are more or less projected from the periphery upon the lower side of the wheel (but not upon the upper side), in amount depending upon the angle through which the sheave f is rotated, the projection It remains to provide means under the tation described and thus causing the an chor-pins to bite into the roadway; and while we do not limit ourselves to any specific means for effecting this rotation, as manifestly it will lie within the skill of the mechanic 'to devise such mechanical elements, that which we prefer and which is shown in the drawings is as follows: An annular spring-casing or box 9 secured by bolts 9" or other fastenings to the sheave 7, said casing being provided with spur-teeth 9 upon its outer periphery, which spurteeth are described upon a pitch-line concentric with the point e about which the sheave j rotates. Within this casing g is located a volute spring it, one end of which is secured at it to the casing 9', and the other at k to stationary point, as for example a projection c? on the sheave e. Mounted adjacent to the outer side of the casing 51 is a transrse shaft 2' carrying pinions 9', one on each end, meshing with the teeth 9 on the springcasings of the respective wheels; and on the I shaft 2' also mounted a winding-drum Ir: for a cord or other flexible connection Z, whose other end passes around a windingdrum on mounted on the operating-shaft n, which is located at a convenient point near the, front of the vehicle as shown-in Fig: 1. I The shaft n is actuated towind the cord upon the drum m and unwind it from the drum is by meansof the operating-lever 0, which is loose upon the shaftand carries a pawl 0' meshing with the teeth of a ratchetwheel 32 keyed to said shaft; said pawl 0' being connected by a link 0 with a fingerlever 0 on the lever 0 whereby it is wlthdrawn from the wheel at the will of the operator, but is normally held in engagement therewith by a spring 0*. The wheel 39 is also engaged by a stationary pawl g pivoted at g and actuated by a depressible plunger 1", normally held raised by a spring 'r" so as to hold the pawl g in engagement with the teeth of the wheel p. When the operator desires to project the anchor-pins d from the periphery of the secondary wheel, he draws the lever 0 toward him and thus winds the cord Z upon the drum m, unwinding it from the drum 7r: and thereby turning the axle i, spring-casing and sheave f; this operation being repeated at number oftimes by oscillating the lever 0, if it is desired to bring the anchor-pins to their full extension. This rotation of the spring-casing acts to wind up the spring h, which accordingly, when the ratchet-wheel p is released by depressing the plunger 7 and compressing the finger-lever 0 returns the sheaves f to their original position, atthesame time rewinding the cord Z upon the drum is and unwinding it from the drum m. a f

It will be observed that, as shown in the drawings, the pins (1 when projected do not 65 control of the operator for efl'ecting' the roactually extend substantially beyond the tire cameo in actual vpractice the weight of the vehicle upor the tire produces a flattening thereof,

so that in effect the tire will be depressed below 'the projected ends of the pins, but

still beyond the tread of the secondary wheel a. If however the tire becomes too much flattened, as from puncture or. loss of air,

then it will :become deflated down to or be-'' low the rim of the wheel a so that the latter,

part or all of the weight, thus preventing rim-cutting and general destgim.

urdevice-istherefore adapted "to act notsim ply as a traction-device, buta'lso as anemer-I will take a ti-ve action of the road upon the tire.

gency-wheel, and will therefore make u-nnecessary the carryin of extra tires and 1 wheels with the vehic e and the immediatestopping for re airs in case of a breakdownl From the a ove description it will be readily seen that our invention will assume; =a variety of forms all embodying the same principles and that a great number of changes and modifications are possible in the nonessentials without departing from'the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is.

pagicularly degned in our claims. 1 aving thus escribed ourinvention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Lethavingits center at a point below the axisters Patent is :v

1. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a wheel, a plurality of pins radially set in the periphery of said wheel and 'adapted to be extended beyond said periphery, a fixed member on which said wheel is 'journaled, a circular eccentric sheave mouhted on said fixed member and of rotation of said wheel, a nonconcentric member rotatably mountedon said sheave and one part of the periphery whereofis.

adapted to press upon the inner ends of said pins'and cause-them to be projected-from the periphery of said wheel, gear-teeth mounted on said nonconcentric member, a shaft parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel, apinion mounted. on said shaft and meshing with said gear-teeth, an operating-shaft, an o crating-lever adapted to rotate said sha and a mechanical connection between the .two shafts whereby the first is rotated from the second.

2. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a wheel, a plurality of pins radially set in the periphery of said wheel and adapted to be extended beyond said peri hery, a fixed member-on which said whee is journaled, a circular eccentric sheave mounted on said fixed member and having its center at a pointbelow-the axis of rotation of said wheel, a nonconc'entric member rotatably mounted on said sheave andone part of the periphery whereof is adapted to press upon the inner ends of said pins and cause'them to be projected fromthe.

periphery of said wheel, gear-teethlmounted on said nonconcentric member, a shaft parallel to :theaxis of rotation of said wheel, a

pinion mounted on said shaft and meshing .70

'with said gear-@teeth, a second transverse I shaft, a winding-drum mounted on each of said shafts, a cord-connecting the ztwo'win'd- -ing-. drums in such manner that it is wound on one shaft when unwound from the other, and an operating-lever adapted to rotate said ing-drum carried by it;

. 3. A device ofheclassdescribedcomprising, in combination, a wheel, a plurality of pins radially set in he periphery of'said .wheel and adapted to be extended beyond said periphery, a fixed member on which said whee is journaled, a'circular eccentric second shaft to wind sa1d cord on the windsheave'mounted on said fixed member and I having its center at a point .below the axis of rotatlon of said' wheel, a )nonconcentric member rotatably mounted on said sheave and one part of the periphery whereof is adapted to press upon-the inner ends of said pins and cause them to :be projected from g the periphery of said wheel, gear-teeth mounted on said nonconcentric member, a shaftparallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel, a pinion mounted on said shaft and \I meshing with said gear-teeth, a second transverse shaft, a winding-drum mounted on 'eachof said shafts, a cord connecting the two winding-drums insuch manner that it is wound on one shaft when unwound from the other, an operating-lever adapted to rotate said second shaft to wind said cord :thereon, a volute spring connecting said nonconcentric memberwith a fixed point in such manner that it is wound .up by the action-of 'said operating-lever; and means for disengaging said operating-lever from the second shaft whereby said spring acts: to return-the parts to their original position. Y

4. The combination with a motor-vehicle of a secondary wheel mounted at the side of one of the traction-wheels, a plurality of anchorpins radially mounted in recesses in said secondary wheel, the outer ends of said pins being adapted to be projected beyond the periphery of said wheel and the inner ends being normally projected internally'within said wheel, means for holding'said pins normally in retracted position, an eccentric circular sheave mounted in fixed position with itscenter lying below the axis of rotation of the wheel, a second-eccentric sheave rotatablymounted upon the firstand having an eccentricity with res ct thereto equal to the eccentricity ofthe rst with respect to the wheel,.the periphery of said second sheave being adapted when said sheave is-turned out of the concentric position to act upon'the inner ends of the pms lyin on the lower side ofithe'wheel and causet em to be projected, an annularspring-casing mounted on said second sheave, a volute spring mounted within said casing and fixed at one end and.

pins bein a apted to be projected beyond the perip cry of said wheel and the inner ends being normally projected internally within said wheel; means for holding said pins normally in retracted position, aneccentric circular sheave mounted in fixed position with its center lying below the axis of rotation of the wheel, a second eccentrics sheave rotatably mounted upon the first and having an eccentricity with respect thereto equal to the eccentricity of the first with respect to the wheel, the periphery of said second sheave being adapted when said sheave is turned out of the concentric position to act upon the inner ends of the pins lying on the lower side of the wheel and cause them to be projected, an annular spring-casing, mounted on said second sheave, a volute spring mounted within said casing and fixed at one end and having the other end attachedto the casing, said casing having gear-teeth upon its periphery, a

.shaft carrying a pinion meshing with said gear-teeth,and hand-controlled means for rotating said shaft.

6.v The combination with a motor-vehicle of a secondary wheel mounted at the side of one of the traction-wheels, a plurality of anchor-pins radially mounted in recesses in said secondar wheel, the outer ends of said pins being a apted to be projected beyond the perip ry of said wheel and the inner ends belng normally projected internally within said wheel, means for holding said pins normally in retracted position, an ec centric circular sheave mounted in fixed position with its center lying below the axis of rotation of the wheel, a second eccentric sheave rotatably mounted upon the first and having an eccentricity with respect thereto equal to the eccentricity of the first with respect to the wheel, the periphery of said second sheave being adapted when said sheave is turned out of the concentric position to act upon the inner ends of the. ins lying on the lower side of the Wheel an cause them to be projected, an annular spring-casing mounted on sald second sheave, a volute spring mounted within said casing and fixed at one end and having the other'end attached to the casing, said casing having gear-teeth upon its periphery, a shaft carrymg a pinion meshing with said gear-teeth,

a second shaft parallel to the first at the front end of the vehicle,'a pair of windingdrums one on each shaft, a cord connecting said Winding-drums in such manner that said cord is unwound fromone as it is axis, a fixed paw engaging said ratchet-' wheel and having'means for disengaging it from said wheel, and a pawl carried on said lever normally engaging said ratchetwheel and having means for disengaging it from said wheel. v. j

7. In a motor vehicle, in combination with a traction -wheel having' a plurality of spokes, a secondary wheel-secured thereto at the side thereof and coaxially therewith, said secondary wheel having an, equal number of casings which lie in the same radial planes as the spokesof the traction-wheel and-which are formed with radial sockets therein, a plurality of anchor-pins mounted in said sockets and radially reciprocable, said pins'being adapted to be projected from the periphery of said secondary wheel, and means for projecting said pinsv 8. In a motor vehicle, in combination with a traction-wheel having a plurality of spokes, a secondary wheel secured thereto at the side thereof and coaxially therewith, said secondary wheel having an equal number of spokes, which lie in the same radial planes as the spokes of the traction-wheel and are a formed with radial sockets therei 11,-a plurality of anchor-pins mounted in said sockets a nd radially reciprocable, said pins being adapted to'be projected from the periphery of said secondary wheel, means for projecting said pins, and a pluralit of compressionsprings mounted in said sockets and abutting at their outer ends on shoulders on said sockets and at their inner ends upon shoulders on said pins whereby to hold said pins resiliently retracted- 9. A traction-device for vehicles comprising a frame adapted to be secured to the side of a wheel thereof, a plurality of radial anchor-pins carried by said frame and radially movable therein, and a device adapted to be mounted on a fixed support for the wheel in a predetermined position; the inner ends of said pins projecting from said frame, and said device having an element which lies in the athof said pins as they reach the lower-side of the wheel and causes them to reject successively outward a sufficient dlstance to bite into the surface of the roadway.

10. A traction-device for vehicles 'compris ing, in combination, a frame adapted to be secured to the side of a wheel thereof, a plurality'of radial anchor-pins mounted on said frame and radially movable, said pins being adapted to be projected sufliciently to bite into the roadway, and shiftable means 'mounted on a fixed part of the vehicle for as to cause the pins to be projected 1n one position thereof, and not so in another position.

12. A traction-device for vehicles comprising, in combination,-a frame carrying a p1u-'v ra it y of radially .shiftable anchor-pins, means for Securing said frame to the vehiclewheel, and a member shiftably and eccentrically mounted with respect to said wheel upon a fixed part of the vehicle;.said pins having portions which are adapted to come in contact with said member in one position of the latter and thereby caused to be moved radially outward sufliciently to bite into the roadway 13. A traction-device for vehicles comprising, in combination, a frame havin means for securing it to a vehicle wheel an a plurality of tubular spokes, a plurality of radially shiftable anchor-pins carried in the bores of said. spokes, and means for causing a radial outward movement of said pins as they approach the lower side of said wheel and thelr radial inward movement as they recede therefrom.

14'. A traction-device for vehicles comprising, in combination, a frame having the same number of tubular radial spokes as the vehicle-wheel, means for securing said frame side byside to the vehicle-wheel in a position. in which each spoke of said frame lies adjacent to'a corresponding spoke of the wheel, a plurality of radially movable pins within the bores of the respective spokes, and means for causing the outward radial movement of said pins as, they approach the lower side of said wheel and their inward radial movement as they recede therefrom.

15. A traction-device for vehicles comprisin in combination, a frame having a plura ity of tubular spokes, a plurality of radially shiftable anchor-pins carried in the bores of said spokes, and means for, causing the radial outward movement of said pins as they ap roach the lower side of said wheel and-t 'eir radial inward movement as they recede therefrom said means being ishiftable into a position in which it does not act upon said pins.

16. In combination with a vehicle-wheel having a comparatively resilient tread, an auxiliary wheel mounted coaxially therewith and adjacent thereto and having a comparatively nonresilient tread of slightly smaller diameter than said resilient tread and a plurality of radial retractable anchorpins set in said nonresilient tread.

17. In combination with a vehicle-wheel having a comparatively resilient tread, an auxiliary wheel mounted coaxially therewith and adjacent thereto and having a comparatively nonresilient'tread of slightly smaller diameter than said resilient tread, a plurality of radially movable anchor-pins mounted on said auxiliary wheel, and means for moving said pins radially outward whereby they are projected beyond said nonresilient tread; 18. In combination with a vehicle-wheel having an inflatable tire, an auxiliary wheel secured to the side thereof coaxially therewith' and having a tread lyin within the outer eri hery of .said tire w en it is inflated ut eyond the same when the tire is deflated, and a plurality of retractable anchor-pins set in the periphery of said aux-' iliary wheel.

'19. In combination with "a vehicle-wheel having an inflatable tire, an auxiliary wheel secured tothe side thereof coaxially therewith andhaving a tread lying within the outer eri hery of said tire when it is inflated ut eyond the same when the tire is deflated, a plurality-of radially movable anchor-pins mounted-on said auxiliary wheel, and means for projecting said anchor-pins beyond the tread thereof.-

20. In combination with a vehicle-wheel having an inflatable .tire, an auxiliary wheel secured to the side thereof'coaxially therewith and having a tread lyin within the outer periphery of said tire w en it is inflated but beyond the same when the tire is deflated, a plurality of radially movable anchor-pins mounted on said auxiliary wheel and a stationary device acting on said anchor-pins to move them radially outward as they approach the lower side of the wheel and radially inward as they recede there'- from.

21. In combination with a vehicle-wheel, having an inflatable tire, an auxiliary wheel secured to the side thereof coaxially therewith and havin a tread lying within the outer periphery 0' said tire when it is inflatedbut beyond the same when the tire is deflated, a plurality of radially movable anchor-pins mounted on said auxiliary wheel, and a stationary device acting on said anchor-pins to move them radially outward as they approach the lower side of the wheel and radially inward as the recede therefrom; said device being shifta le into a, osition in which it does not act on said p ns as they rotate.

22. A traction-device for vehicles comprising, in combination, a frame adapted to e secured to a vehicle-wheel, said frame carrying a plurality of radially movable pins, sald pins being projectable sufliciently to bite into the roadway and having portions adapted to be acted on by the hereinon said pins to hold them n rmally re:

tracted, an eccentric sheave mounted on a fixedportion of the vehicle adjacent to the wheel, its center 1 ing below the center of rotation of said ve icle, and asecondshe'ave mounted on said first sheave and having the same eccentricity with respect thereto as the latter has with respect to the axis of the wheel; said second sheave being adapted to be rotated so as to be either concentric with or eccentric to the axis of the wheel and'its ee7,1oo

I after-named eccentric sheave, springs acting periphery in the latter osition lying in the path of said portions 0 the pins whereby it s caused m such position to act on same as 15 hereinabove said; and means for rotating said last-named eccentric sheave. I

. In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 27 day of March 1909.

Witnesses:

PETER KIROHEN,

WM. F. THIEL. 

